Phonak to launch next generation platform including the first mainstream lithium-ion rechargeable hearing aid

Stäfa, Switzerland27 June 2016

Phonak, the leading global provider of hearing instruments and wireless communication solutions, today announces that it will launch the next generation hearing aid product platform Belong, which includes pioneering lithium-ion rechargeable battery technology in hearing aids. Built on the superior Palio 3 technology and specially designed to simplify consumers’ lives, the new Audéo B Receiver-in-Canal (RIC) products and the first of its kind lithium-ion rechargeable hearing aid, Audéo B-R, will be released to the US market in August, with Europe to follow in September 2016.

Highlights

Phonak to launch next generation hearing aid platform Belong with the new Audéo B RIC products less than 24 months after successful introduction of Phonak Venture platform

New platform includes Audéo B-R the first ever hearing aid to feature a built-in lithium-ion rechargeable battery providing 24 hours* of hearing

AutoSense OS: the cutting edge industry only system further enhanced for unmatched hearing performance

“Consumers are becoming increasingly active and require hearing solutions which can automatically keep up with their lifestyles. Audéo B is evidence of our clear commitment to pioneer life-changing innovative hearing solutions in the marketplace. This ground-breaking industry-leading technology provides consumers with the first of its kind lithium-ion rechargeable hearing aid, offering 24 hours* of hearing with one simple charge,” said Martin Grieder, Group Vice President Phonak.

Research1 revealed that rechargeable batteries and rechargeable hearing aids are top of the list of features that hearing aid users are seeking. In response to this insight and based on years of research, development and intensive testing, Phonak Audéo B-R opens a new era to those affected by hearing loss. Today, lithium-ion is the fastest growing and most promising battery technology that offers 40% more power than conventional rechargeable batteries. This makes Phonak Audéo B-R the quickest charging, longest lasting rechargeable hearing aid ever produced. The new pioneering solution is another result of Phonak’s unwavering commitment to change people’s lives for the better.

The Phonak rechargeable hearing aid is the first ever hearing aid to feature a built-in lithium-ion rechargeable battery, providing 24 hours of hearing with a simple charge of just 3 hours. The 30 minute fast-charging option gives 6 hours of immediate use. Additionally, lithium-ion batteries last through the lifetime of a hearing aid, even after years of repeated charging. This combined with the fact that the battery compartment is sealed, frees customers from the cumbersome task of regularly changing their batteries. The new technology is also environmentally friendly with users typically going through around a 100 batteries per year and hearing aid.

Ideal for those constantly on the move, Phonak rechargeable hearing aids also come with smart charging options. The power pack, which is easily attached to the Phonak Charger Case, provides power for seven full charges of two hearing aids, ideal for short trips where no power source is available. In addition, Phonak offers a compact mini charger giving users full flexibility.

AutoSense OS: unmatched industry leading hearing performance2

Audéo B runs on AutoSense OS, the cutting edge industry only and leading operating system from Phonak, which has been further enhanced with features such as adaptive SoundRecover2 to offer even better hearing performance in everyday listening situations. Its fully automatic operation gives customers an effortless hearing experience without having to press buttons or switch between listening programs, proven to deliver 20% better speech understanding in general and 60% improvement in speech understanding when in a noisy environment thanks to the highly-sophisticated automatic selection. Whether dining with friends in a noisy restaurant, driving a car or listening to music, AutoSense OS does what no other system can. It captures and analyzes incoming sounds in real-time, and then draws upon multiple features blending them to create over 200 distinct settings to match the sound environment.

Phonak Belong – new product platform ready to drive the next technological breakthrough

Less than two years after the launch of the successful Venture product platform, Phonak is ready to launch the next product platform built on the flexible Palio 3 technology. The next-generation Receiver-in-Canal (RIC) hearing aid Audéo B is the first product family based on the new Phonak Belong product platform, which features a host of innovative technologies that have been created specifically to simplify the life of people with hearing loss. The new Audéo B hearing aids come in a new design and will be available in 4 performance levels and 9 colors. All models are IP 68 rated, meaning that they are dust tight and protected against water. With Belong, Phonak is once again helping consumers with hearing loss live better lives.

About PhonakHeadquartered near Zurich, Switzerland, Phonak, a member of Sonova Group, has developed, produced and globally distributed state-of-the-art hearing systems and wireless devices for more than 60 years. The combination of expertise in hearing technology, mastery in acoustics and strong cooperation with hearing care professionals allows Phonak to significantly improve people’s hearing ability and speech understanding and therefore their quality of life. Phonak offers a complete range of digital hearing instruments, along with complementary wireless communication systems. With a worldwide presence, Phonak drives innovation and sets new industry benchmarks regarding miniaturization and performance.

At Phonak, we believe that hearing well is essential to living life to the fullest. For almost 70 years, we remain true to our mission by pioneering hearing solutions that change people’s lives to thrive socially and emotionally. Life is on.